Tuesday, 23 April 2013

The biggest change in this build is the return of the start
button. Yep, Microsoft has listened to consumer feedback and brought back the
sidelined, yet infamous feature of Windows. However, this button will still feed into the Windows 8 ‘Metro’ start screen as Microsoft is resisting the temptation to bring back the, also infamous, Start menu. For me, this won’t make much of a difference. I’m finding myself without the need to use the Start menu as all the apps/programs I use on a daily basis are conveniently pinned to the taskbar. Still, as a bit of a nostalgic, I look forward to the return of the Start button.

(Reported look for the new Start button)

Another introduction in 8.1 is the expected step to a ‘Metro’
Windows explorer to manage your files. This is certainly not a mind-blowing
alteration but it is necessary to encourage users to embrace the Metro layout.
It fits with the clean, uncluttered look of Windows 8 and is a step towards the
days without a desktop (not coming in the near future – don’t worry).

Some of you will be reading and thinking; “So what? These
are not groundbreaking changes” and you would be right. But the actual changes
are just a part of the significance of the 8.1 update. Microsoft are aware of the
brutality of their change with the Windows 8 OS, and are listening to feedback
to make this transition better for the user. The nature of Windows 8 – being
extremely experimental for the most established computing OS layout – is that
of trial and error. Microsoft has introduced a huge array of new interactions
and alterations in the Windows 8 and there will always be teething problems
when the public get their hands on it. This has certainly been true of Windows
8 but it is good to see Microsoft taking on board feedback – and reacting to
it.

Monday, 15 April 2013

Facebook Home was launched recently amid little media
attention. Everyone anticipated a new phone, and in turn, anticipated another
poorly sold new attempt at an OS. Instead, what was announced was an
intelligently thought out move from Facebook by releasing an extension of
Android via a launcher app. Facebook Home has been released in partnership with
the HTC First and will be available on download for the HTC One, HTC One X,
Samsung SIII, Samsung S4 and Samsung Note II. I don’t expect the HTC First will
sell well, and in all reality, I doubt HTC are pinning any hopes on it to
change their fortunes.

So what is Facebook Home? And how does it operate? How does
it differ from the functionality of the other operating systems?

With Android, Facebook Home can be accessed via an app and
in the words of Zuckerberg – it makes your Android device truly social. The partnership
with HTC can be seen immediately with ‘Cover Feed’, a live-updated social feed
that operates similarly to FlipBoard and the HTC One’s BlinkFeed. This Cover Feed
swamps the entirety of the launcher screen with Facebook content but if you
want to get away from it, the normal apps are available by simply swiping
upwards.

Facebook have also introduced ‘Chat Heads’ which turns
Facebook Messenger into a more integrated messaging addition to your phone. Pop-up
heads appear in the phone margins and can be responded to without leaving the
app. I’ll put more out when I get a chance to play around with it but with my
addiction to Twitter and other applications – I can’t see myself falling in
love with it. That’s certainly not to say others wont.

Thanks for reading. Let me know if you download Facebook
Home and what you think of it/ever use it. Would be interested in hearing your
thoughts.